Awww.... She's really pretty! Congrats on your first boa - I adore mine and am totally happy I have her. They are really neat snakes.

The branch should be fine. I would've baked it in the oven for 20min or so rather than boiled it, but I think boiling works ok. I do know that you just want to make sure it dries out well so mold doesn't start. I am also not 100% positive that boiling will take care of any parasites deep inside the wood. I have heard that baking at 300 for 20min is the only way to be sure. But on the other hand, it seems like it would be ok. So I dunno... Maybe someone else will chime in on that one???